FAA approves solar farm to be located near Ruidoso's airport

Ruidoso's municipal airport received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to use land adjacent to Sierra Blanca Regional Airport, if village officials decide to move ahead with a solar panel farm.

Village Manager Debi Lee told Ruidoso councilors at a recent meeting that Airport Operations Manager Sean Parker has been working with the FAA Southwest Region manager and staff on the solar panel proposal.

After submitting several documents showing studies on reflectivity, proximity to the airport and runways, the federal agency approved the village's concept, she said. If a solar farm is developed within a five-mile radius of an airport, the site must be evaluated.

"We have received the four letters of determination and have them on file," Lee said. Parker will forward the information to solar consultant Jim Miller and Steve House of Triple H Solar LLC. based in Rio Rancho.

Staff will begin working on what type of land lease the village wants to negotiate with a solar panel company, she said.

Miller and House have conducted audits with other municipalities on the same subject and are putting together a document for village review, Lee said, adding, "We are certainly on our way to cheaper, cleaner energy for the airport."

Preliminary stage

However, Airport Manager Dave Pearce cautioned that the process is just beginning.

"It would be a wonderful thing and we're excited about the opportunity," he said Tuesday. "But we have a long way to go.

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FAA has agreed to the concept, but we must do an assessment, find out if there are companies interested, what would be required and how they would model their business plan. There's so much to do yet. We're way in the preliminary stages. If someone else comes in we don't even know about now, we need to be able to offer them the same opportunity."

In a recent interview with the Ruidoso News, House said, "We have a couple of options, but the one I'm most comfortable could be a reality is a 1.5 megawatt array."

Pinpointing the best location to benefit the entire community and the cooperative, not just one entity such as the airport, is important, he said. "There are other options for the village," House said. "I'm still kicking rocks over to make the right decision for the whole community, not just one location."

House said he's been involved in developing solar projects for six years. "They're all different," he said of the time it takes to get a project off the ground. "One of the great things about this one is the willingness of the community and availability of the land. The community and council understand renewable energy. Another (advantage) is this spot is one of the top five in the nation to make good solar energy. It has high elevation, meaning the air is clearer, but there's plenty of rain to keep the panels clean. And New Mexico averages 310 clear days a year. In winter, the solar panels generally are the most efficient because they operate best when they are cold and it is a bright sunny day and the ground is covered with snow."